Steven J. Krupa

Steven J. Krupa has been a practicing attorney since 1994. He was born in Paterson, New Jersey and has lived in Tacoma since 1991. He is a founding partner of the Law Offices of Krupa & Clark. Steve’s primary areas of practice are criminal defense, military law, and federal litigation.

Steve received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. After graduation, Steve attended the MBA program at Rutgers while he worked for Automatic Data Processing in the Bronx and Manhattan. Steve decided to move to the Northwest to attend the University of Puget Sound School of Law in Tacoma. After his first year Steve attended the evening program so that he could work at a variety of internships, including at the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and a Tacoma criminal law firm. While still an intern, Steve tried a number of misdemeanor cases and second chaired on civil trials and administrative hearings. This experience gave him a passion for litigation and for fighting for his client’s rights. As a result, Steve focused his law school studies on criminal justice and clinical legal studies courses in order to better prepare for a career as a trial attorney.

Steve was admitted to the Washington State Bar and the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in 1994. He was admitted to the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals in 1995. At his first job out of law school, Steve worked for a busy criminal defense firm and immediately began trying cases under a public defender contract. Since that time, Steve has tried felony and misdemeanor cases throughout the State of Washington in State, Federal or Military Courts. Steve has also tried civil cases in Superior and District Courts and has successfully arbitrated or mediated numerous civil claims. In addition, he has represented hundreds of clients in licensing actions in administrative proceedings. Steve has argued before the Washington State Court of Appeals and the Ninth Circuit. He has represented clients in complex civil and criminal matters including White Collar crime, Healthcare Fraud, Natural Resource Theft, and False Claims Act cases in Federal Courts in Seattle and Tacoma. Steve also continues to use his extensive trial and litigation experience to represent people charged with DUI or Domestic Violence charges in State and Municipal Court.

Steve is dedicated to giving each of his clients the personal service they deserve. He is well known and regarded in the legal community and by his clients for taking the time to explain complex legal proceedings in a way that lay people can easily understand and process. This is why much of his business comes by way of referrals from satisfied customers, judges, prosecutors, senior military leaders, and law enforcement. Steve also has significant experience in the representation of professionals including Health Care Providers, Military and Police Officers, and Educators. He is available for representation or consultation in all Washington State or Federal Courts.

In 1997 Steve was commissioned as an Officer in the United State Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He has served in the United States Army Reserve since then and is a graduate of the United States Army Judge Advocate Generals School in Charlottesville, Virginia as well as the United States Army Reserve Judge Advocate Officer Advanced Course. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Steve has served in a variety of positions including Legal Assistance Officer, Acting Chief of Legal Assistance, Administrative Law Attorney, Defense Counsel, Senior Defense Counsel, Regional Defense Counsel, Trial Counsel, and Command Judge Advocate. He currently holds Secret clearance. Steve is admitted to practice in all military courts and has tried numerous general and special courts martial as detailed military counsel or retained civilian counsel. He has represented men and women in all service branches in pay grades from E1 to O7. In addition, Steve has served as detailed military or retained civilian counsel in a wide range of adverse administrative proceedings. Steve’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He is available for consultation or representation in courts martial or adverse administrative proceedings world-wide.

Steve serves as a Trustee of the Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association and is the Program Director for the Robert J. Bryan Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He is a member of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the Washington Defender Association and the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington. Steve is also a member of the Washington State Bar Association Legal Assistance to Military Personnel Section and the Reserve Officers Association. He is active in the Watchdogs program at Tacoma Public schools and is involved in Scouting. Steve lives in Tacoma with his wife and their 3 children.